Gone Walkabout...

This blog was going to be about my travels and impressions I had from them. But my attention span went walkabout. And like with any good walkabout I discovered unexpected things. I invite you to come explore with me...

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Be Mine?

I had a surprise in the mail today. A Valentines card from Himself! He had mailed it on the 8th, the day they docked in Akutan for a few hours. A week is good time from Akutan to Clarksville! (The mail goes out when the seaplanes can make it in. And it's been stormy lately.)

I love fishing floats! Himself has brought back one for me and always is on the lookout for more. So this card is just perfect! In fact, I'll be framing it to go in our bedroom. I think the artist has done a wonderful job catching the soft light on the floats.

In our almost 29 years together, we shared very few Valentines Day together. When Himself was in the army it seemed Feb was always the month they were out in the desert. Now Feb is the middle of cod season and he's up in the Bering Sea. But in 2004 he was home - just back from working a year in Bosnia.

That Valentines Day I found myself kidnapped! That morning he ran a couple errands and then after lunch he came into the living room carrying our small suitcase. All he would tell me was that we were going somewhere.

We drove into Clarksville, turning into the Hachland Hills B&B. Hmmmm. This was owned by Phila Hach, a local chef celebrity. (I'd been here a couple times for a cooking contest I'd finaled in).

We drove past the 'main house' and down to a little cabin.

The "Honeymoon Cabin"...

Now I knew what his morning errands were! Inside the cabin were flowers, chocolates and a bottle of "bubbly" (sparkling grape juice).

He'd even brought along my beloved cat "Hanna". (No wonder she hadn't been causing in trouble that morning... she wasn't at home!!)

There was a fire blazing in the fireplace. That is where Hanna had stationed herself. She was no dumb kitty!

He had even brought marshmallows and roasting sticks.

And made tea for us from water boiled over the fire. That gives it a really interesting smoky flavor... good with black tea, better with Earl Grey.

Dinner that night and breakfast the next morning was up the hill at the Hachland Inn. It was prepared by "Ms. Phila" herself. It was so good!

Spring Beauties

My Links

My alter ego :-D

About Me

My life is eclectic. I taught EMT on Ft. C and adult ed classes at a local college. I was in charge of a program on Ft. C that taught ESL and worked with soldiers as they prepared for their INS naturalization exams. I was president of a non-profit that partnered with the State Dept in sending aid to Russia after the collapse of the USSR. Now I am a photographer.
I live in the NOW mode... No Opportunity Wasted! I go at it full throttle. I swam with dolphins in Key Largo, flew on the old Aeroflot and survived!, have hot air ballooned in Kenya, love to ride hunter/jumpers, I take culinary classes, been snorkeling in Aruba, have learned various heritage handicrafts, go on major road trips... the list is long. I sponsor 6 kids overseas.
Himself retired in '99 (after 22 years in SF) and we now travel. I've been to 16 countries & 38 states. In '08 we bought a house on the river. My focus now is on making this house into our home.